Sheet metal working machine with straightening rollers



Sept. 12, 1961 F. UNGERER 2,999,530

SHEET METAL WORKING MACHINE WITH STRAIGHTENING ROLLERS Filed Jan. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVA'NI'OP F/WTZ (l/VJ-RER Sept. 12, 1961 F. UNGERER 2,999,530

SHEET METAL WORKING MACHINE WITH STRAIGI-ITENING ROLLERS Filed Jan. 8, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvwswrae United States Patent Q 2,999,530 SHEET METAL WQRKING MACHINE WITH dTRAIGl-ITENING ROLLERS Fritz Ungerer, Arlingerstrasse 6, Pforzheim-Brotzingen,

Germany Filed Jan. 8, 1957, Ser. No. 633,074 Claims priority, application Germany Jan. 13, 1956 4 Claims. (Cl. 153-106) This invention relates to sheet metal working machines and in particular to sheet-straightening machines provided with a plurality of longitudinally supported straightening rollers arranged one behind the other.

In known straightening machines, however, gaps remain between intermediate rollers bearing against the straightening rollers, and the supporting rolls likewise were spaced from one another. This resulted in the :formation of stripe patterns on sheets having highly glossy sensitive surfaces and being straightened, the stripe patterns generally arising at those locations Where the intermediate rollers bore against the straightening rollers and at those locations in which the straightening rollers were not covered by intermediate roilers.

The formation of such patterns may have been due to the fact that dirt particles were rolled and pressed into the straightening roller surfaces by the intermediate rollers or due to the fact that the abrupt changes in contact pressure exerted on the metal sheets were sufiicient to engender changes in the reflective capacity of the sur faces of these sheets being straightened.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide means faciltating faultless straightening of metal sheets and like objects with the aid of straightening rollers and supporting means of such a length and in such a number that substantially the entire width of the sheet passage is traversed by intermediate rollers. In this connection, the outer end sections of the straightening rollers may remain free or uncovered since the latter are not utilized from end to end.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of means conducive to novel, yet greatly simplified straightening machines the intermediate rollers of which are less susceptible to deformation than those of heretofore known machines of this kind and thus render the straightening of metal sheets more precise and economical.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide means enabling straightening as well as stretching of metal sheets in a straightening machine without entailing the creation of stripe patterns or other surface gloss irregularities on the sheets during working thereof.

The goal of having the intermediate rollers cover the straightening rollers over the entire sheet passage width may be attained in a number of different ways. According to one embodiment of the invention, there are provided intermediate rollers the length of each of which is only a fraction of that of any of the straightening rollers and which are arranged in staggered but overlapping relation relative to one another.

By way of example, three intermediate rollers may be located at predetermined axial distances from one another in front of the first straightening roller, while in the space between the first and second straightening rollers are located two additional intermediate rollers which are disposed, respectively opposite the gaps between the firstnamed three intermediate rollers. The length of each additional intermediate roller is, of course, at least equal to the length of the respective gap between the associated first-named intermediate rollers.

This type of arrangement may be carired on as far as desired or necesasry. As in the case of supporting 2,;id9530 Patented Sept. 12, 1961 rolls, the intermediate rollers advantageously may be arranged for adjustment, in particular for height adjustment, and for inclination or tilting relative to the straightening rollers.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, there are provided besides the intermediate rollers a number of much shorter supporting rolls adjustable independently of each other and acting on the intermediate rollers. This arrangement is especially advantageous when there are provided, in lieu of intermediate rollers the length of each of which is only a fraction of that of any of the straightening rollers, flexible intermediate rollers each having approximately the same length as the straightening rollers. The diameter of each of these flexible intermediate rollers is approximately 30 to 40% of the diameter of one of the straightening rollers.

When the supporting rolls for the flexible intermediate rollers are constructed for adjustment independently of each other, the extent of stretching effected at various portions of each sheet may be selectively predetermined and adjusted or varied during the straightening operation.

According to still another embodiment of the invention, there are provided intermediate rollers extending over the entire length of the straightening rollers without the aid of additional supporting rolls. The intermediate rollers in this case are provided with necks or trunnions which are preferably retained in collar or neck journal bearings constructed in the form of roller bearings, such as needle roller bearings.

These intermediate rollers, too, are airanged in front of and behind the straightening rollers and in the spaces or saddles formed between and above said straightening rollers, but the bearing locations interrupting the individual roller surfaces are staggered with respect to one another so that, as viewed in the direction of feed or passage of the sheet, the entire width of the latter is nevertheless covered by intermediate rollers.

In all of the above described embodiments of the invention, the formation of visible lustrous or glossy stripes or other patterns in highly glossy surfaces of metal sheets during passage of the latter through the machine is avoided. To the extent that adjustable supporting means are provided, the advantages of the selective variation of the extent of stretching at different locations across the width of each sheet, which are characteristic of adjustable supporting rolls, are also retained.

This adjustability can also be attained in the case of intermediate rollers extending over the entire length of the straightening rollers and held in neck journal bearings by rendering the carriers or holders for these bearings adjustable or by rendering the bearings adjustable relative to their carriers. This feature of the present invention raises no problem, since any of these parts when being adjusted is displaced not through large distances but only through very small distances in which the intermediate and straightening rollers can be elastically deformed.

These and other objects of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, showing preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a first embodiment of the straightening and intermediate roller system of a straightening machine constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a second embodiment of the invention;

it (a FIG. is a sectional view taken along the line V--V in FIG. 4.;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the straightening and sup porting roller system shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line Vlll- VIII in FIG. 7.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2- and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that there are provided in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention five straightening rollers 3 journaled by means of suitable bearings (not shown) in a machine frame E. Above these straightening rollers are arranged several sets of intermediate rollers, the first set of which includes an intermediate roller 5 disposed in front of the first straightening roller 3, as well as two further intermediate rollers 4 and 6 in the V-shaped space or saddle formed between the first two straightening rollers.

As may best be seen from FEGS. l and 2, the intermediate roller 5 is disposed in front of the gap between the rollers 4 and 6 and, being longer than the gap, overlaps the adjacent ends of the rollers 4 and 6 to ensure that the entire sheet passage width is covered, The remaining sets of intermediate rollers 4', 5 and 6 and 4", 5 and 6" are, as shown in FIG. 2, arrangedin a corresponding manner, so that an intermediate roller system extending over the entire sheet passage width is constituted by three identical sets of intermediate rollers.

Suitable bearings 2 are provided to journal the intermediate rollers 4, 4' and 4" in carrier or holder arms 7 and 7', the intermediate rollers 5, 5 and 5" in carrier or holder arms 8 and 8', and the intermediate rollers 6, 6' and 6" in carrier arms 9 and 9. Thevariouscarrier arms are preferably made adjustable by any suitable means (not shown).

Turning now to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that in front of and behind the straightening rollers 2d journaled in a machine frame 11 and in the/ spaces or saddles formed between and above the straightening rollers are arranged intermediate rollers it) which extend approximately along the entire length of the straightening rollersand, each of which has a diameter approximately 30 to 40% as large as the diameter of the straightening rollers.

These intermediate rollers are acted upon by relatively short supporting rolls 13 each of which, of course, bears against two adjacent intermediate rollers it) from above the latter. In front of the first and behind the last inter* mediate roller further rolls 12 are provided for supporting the outermost intermediaterollerslaterally. The rolls 12 and 13 are journaled by means of roller bear ings 21 in preferably adjustable arms 14.

In accordance with theembodirnent of FIGS. 6 to 8, there are provided above the straightening rollers 15 which are journaled in a frame 18 supporting rolls to, 17 and '22 in lieu of the supporting rolls l2 and i3 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. These supporting rolls 16, 17 and 22 engage flexible intermediate rollers 23 and are provided with necks or trunnions 24' of substantially reduced diameter, by means of which they are journaled in collar or neckjournal bearings 26 constructed in the form of roller bearings, preferably needle roller bearings. The bearings 26 are arranged in arms 19 for height adjustment independently of one another through the intermediary of adjusting screws 25.

The bearing locations of consecutive supporting rolls 17 and 22 are staggered with respect to each other. As viewed in the directionof sheet passage, the entire sheet width is again covered by intermediate rollers 23.

The supporting rolls 16 are arranged in front of the first and behind the last fiexible interrnediate rollers 23, and the supporting rolls 17 and 22 are arranged in the spaces or saddles between and above'the intermediate rollers 23.

The bending of the thin flexible intermediate rollers by the supporting rolls acting thereon or by other supporting rollers does not give rise to any difiiculties because the power required for the bending of these supporting rollers decreases with the cube of the diameter. As compared to the power required for bending of the straightening rollers only by means of supporting rolls, the power demand according to the present invention is only negligibly higher.

The bearing trunnionsor necks of the supporting rolls journaled at a plurality of locations and extending over the entire length of the straightening rollers may have very small diameters because they have to transmit-only small forces, in view of the fact that each supportingroll contacts the associated straightening rollers over its entire length and under the straightening pressure.

Straightening machines of the type employed in implementing the invention generally define an upper and a lower straightening roller path. It may be found desirable to provide an intermediate roller system constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention for the upper straightening roller path and an intermediate roller system constructed in' accordance with another embodiment of the invention for the lower straightening roller path.

By way of example, the upper straightening roller path may be provided with a system of intermediate rollers journaled in neck bearings and extending over the entire length of the straightening rollers, while for the lower straightening roller path there may be provided a system of flexible intermediate rollers acted on by independently adjustable supporting rolls.

The carriers for the supporting rolls and intermediate rollers are preferably constructed for slight rotation, so that the intermediate rollers can automatically adjust themselves in accordance with the deformation of the straightening rollers in such a manner that they always bear against the straightening roller surfaces.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1; A sheet metal working machine comprising a plurality of spaced sheet straightening rollers, a. plurality of spaced flexible intermediate rollers disposed above said straightening rollers for supporting said straightening rollers along the entire width of a sheet being worked upon during passage against said straightening rollers, said straightening rollers forming V-shaped formations therebetween, said intermediate rollers being disposed in said V-shapedformations and being further located in front and rearwardly of said straightening rollers, said intermediate rollers being of substantially the same length as said straightening rollers, supporting rolls of considerably shorter length than said straightening rollers and arranged in staggered relationship with respect to each other and disposed independently of said intermediate rollers above said intermediate rollers,- and means for individual adjustment of at least some of said supporting rolls relative to said intermediate rollers, said supporting rolls each bearing against two adjacent interediate rollers. 7

2. A sheet metal Working machine comprising a plurality of spaced sheet straightening rollers, a plurality of spaced flexible intermediate rollers disposed abovesaid straightening rollers for supporting said straightening rollers along the entire width of a sheet being worked upon during passage against said straightening rollers, said intermediate rollers being of substantially the same length as said straightening rollers and having a diameter ranging from between 30% to 40% that of the diameter of said straightening rollers, said straightening rollers forming V-shaped formations therebetween, said intermediate rollers being disposed in said V-shaped formations and being further located in front and rearwardly of said straightening rollers, supporting rolls of considerably shorter length than said straightening rollers and arranged in staggered relationship with respect to each other and disposed independently of said intermediate rollers above said intermediate rollers, and means for individual adjustment of at least some of said supporting rolls relative to said intermediate rollers, said means including bearings for said supporting rolls, and threaded adjustment members secured to said bearings for raising and lowering said bearings and hence said supporting rolls, said supporting rolls each bearing against two adjacent intermediate rollers. 1

3. A machine according to claim 2, said supporting rolls being provided with trunnions of reduced diameter, said trunnions being joumaled in said bearings, said bearings being needle roller bearings.

4. A machine according to claim 1, including additional supporting rolls disposed in front and in back of said intermediate rollers and engaging the forwardmost and rearwardmost of said intermediate rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

